If you're up before the birds at Links Golf & Wellbeing, there's a good chance you'll catch Nathan already well into his workday. As a recently qualified Greenkeeper, Nathan has been part of the grounds crew for five years, following three years in golf operations while he was still at school.
What drew him in? For Nathan, it's all about teamwork and continuous improvement. He thrives on the daily challenge of helping the crew push the course to new levels.
His day starts before sunrise and he's on-site by 4:40am, checking the job board and jumping into the day's tasks. By 1:30pm, he's clocked off, often squeezing in a cheeky nap before heading to AFL or cricket training, two sports he's played since age five.
A highlight of his time so far was taking the lead in verti-draining all greens and tees during last year's renovation-a major moment in his apprenticeship. The best part of the job? Seeing over 200 players enjoy the course daily, knowing he's played a part in making it look its best.
Nathan originally wanted to be a firefighter, but greenkeeping was always on his radar thanks to helping at his cricket club. He would love to get experience to grow into a foreman role, and maybe even pick up a few plumbing skills along the way.
Nathan draws inspiration from the visible transformations on the course. "Coming into work one day and spraying the greens, then the next day they look mint- it's the best feeling," he says. His number one tip for keeping a course in top shape? "Use water wisely and stick to solid routine programs."
Outside of work, Nathan's known for his competitive streak. He'd love super strength as a superpower-not just for the arm-wrestling bragging rights, but also to be the guy who can always open a stubborn jar lid. On his bucket list? Skydiving-mostly for the adrenaline, and the laughs watching the footage back.
And here's an interesting fact: Nathan travelled to Japan in Year 5 and was the youngest of 20 students selected. No surprise-he's always been up for a challenge.
His favourite piece of advice? "Get good at things other people won't want to do or won't do." That hard-working, hands-on attitude is exactly what makes Nathan such a valuable part of the Links team.